15 Things to Know about the Town's Proposed Budget

Town Administrator Timothy McInerney presented the Fiscal Year 2012 budget to selectmen at their meeting on Feb. 8.

Here are 15 things to know about it:

$41,635,000 : The proposed budget amount

1.8 percent : The increase over last year's amount

$124,617:  The projected reduction in state aid from last year

0: The amount of staff cuts 

55.92 percent: The amount of the municipal budget taken by school expenses, excluding health insurance of school employees and Blackstone Valley Tech expenses.

$475,017: The amount of reduction suggested by McInerney to the School Superintendent's requested budget. 

1.63 percent: The increase over last year's school budget

The remainder of the budget is divided this way:

5.4 percent: General government 

6.23 percent: Public safety

6.19 percent: Public works 

2.32 percent: Sewer (which is self-funded)

.95 percent: Health and human services

1.79 percent: Culture and recreation 

14 percent: Unclassified (includes health insurance costs)

7.2 percent: Debt services

He expects "lean budget years'' in the years ahead, with "tough choices'' to be made. 

But he saluted the work of the Capital Improvement Committee, which is looking to set future priorities on work needed in town.

"Fixing roadways should be the next priority,'' McInerney said.